HUMAN RIGHTS OF FEMALE INMATES AND THEIR WARDS IN NIGERIAN PRISONS

abstracts

Chapter IV of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) 1999 provides for fundamental human rights of all Nigerians. Nigeria as a nation has signed, ratified and domesticated many regional and international treaties and instrument on human rights. Human rights are universal and must be respected by all. This position is affirmed by the Nigerian Constitution, various human rights laws, international and regional instruments including Universal Declaration of Human Right (UDHR) 1948, African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) 1981, among others. These laws and instruments emphasized that no one should be discriminated against on any account and the freedom of all humans, in every sphere of life, economic, social, political, cultural, religious, among others.18 It must be noted that prisoners may have to lose their right to personal liberty, that does not mean that they should forfeit their basic human rights because of imprisonment. Moreover, a prisoner is human and human rights are conferred on individuals by virtue of their humanity, therefore, it is the person of the prisoner and his or her humanity that deserves to be protected. This paper therefore discusses the rights of female inmates and their wards that are violated by the dysfunctional prison system that is operated in Nigeria.